Fumigating apparatus



July 27,1926. 1,593,641`

. L G. J. WEGERER l FUMI'GATING APPARATUS Patented July 27, 1926.

narran stare GEORGE J". WEG-EBEE, OF BELL, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CALXFORNIA CYANIDE COMPANY, INCEPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAVJARE.

FUMIGATING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 20, 1924.

This invention relates to i''umigatingv apparatus and more particularly to improvements therein whereby the use thereof is safeguarded. The apparatus is particularly designed for handling dangerous liquids such as liquid hydrocyanic acid. llt may be employed, however, in atomizingand vaporizing other and similar materials.

ln fumigating vegetation, and particularly citrus trees, by means of liquid hydrocyanic acid, the trees are first enclosed in a cover `or .tent andthe liquid is atomized and thus ,distributed through the enclosure.

Apparatus has been 'devised whereby the liquid is forced under vpressure through an atomizing nozzle which causes it to be finely divided so that it vaporizes quickly. lfn using such apparatus it is necessary to observe certain precautions because of the dangerouscharacter yof the liquid. lt is particularly desirable to avoid leakage `of the liquid from the atomizingnozzle while the apparatus is being transported from tree to tree and when the operator is not aware of the possibility of contact with the liquid or the vapor therefrom.

ln certain apparatus heretofore used a check valve has been introduced at the nozzle so 'that ythe liquidescapescnly when pressure is exertedfthereon.' There is, however, a slight amount of liquid'in y,the nozzle and the pipe leading thereto, and the valve must close necessarily against the pressure exerted `by this liquid. The resulting retardation of the valve action has .permitted some liquid to yescape after the apparatus should have been closed.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus in which the difculty heretofore experienced is avoided, the valve being closed substantially instantaneously and without permitting` the escape of any unvaporized liquid.

Further objects yand advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification .and accompanying drawing which indicates in vertical section a portionv of the apparatus embodying the improvements herein described and claimed.

The apparatus vhereinbefore referred to is described in the application of Joseph D. lleuls, Serial No. 701,038, filed March 22, 1924:, and includes in addition to the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing a Serial No. 700,568.

receptacle for the liquid hydrocyanic acid Or other fumigating agent and a device for selectively limiting the stroke of the pump plunger for the purpose of measuring the dose of the fumigating agent which is to be ilvaporized. rlhat portion of the apparatus is not a part of the present invention and therefore need not be described herein with further detail. y

The present invention includes` the provision of means cooperating y with the plunger or other device for applying pressure to the liquid to relieve the pressure thereon or to create a slight suction effect which will draw the liquid from the nozzle intothe pipe connected therewith and assist the closing of the check valve in the nozzle. lli/*ith this provision the cut-off is sharply defined and. no liquid escapes after the plunger rod is released by the operator. rlhis affords important safeguard in the operation of fumigating a paratus by removing a danger to which the operators have been subjected heretofore.

Referring to the drawing, indicates a pump cylinder to which the liquid flows from the receptacle (not shown). A plunger rod 6 is disposed in the cylinder and is vloosely connected at its lower end Lto a piston 7 A. guidingplunger 8 having a lubricating ring '9 is secure'dto the. plunger rod aboveV the piston. The loose connection between the plunger rod and the piston is afforded by a valve 10 which operates between the body of the piston and a cap 11 Si having openings 12 therein for thepassage of liquid. rlhe valve 10 closes a passage 13 when the plunger rod is in its lower position. 'When the rod is lifted to raise the piston the valve first opens :to permit li uid to descend through the passage 13. pon the downward movement of the plunger rod the valve first closes and then forces the piston Z downwardly to apply pressure to the liquid in the cylinder. ing 1e is disposed about the piston .and is held in place by a keeper 15 which is supported on a spring 16 bearing against a collar 17, the latter being threadedly secured to the lower end of the piston.

The pump is connected by a pipe 18 in which'an outlet and a :controlling valve 1:9 and :20 respectively are 'disposed to a nozzle 21 having' an outlet 22. The valve 23 is supported in the nozzle and is normally held T Suitablel paclrby a spring A against a seat 25 so that liquid escapes from the pipe 18 only under the pressure applied by the piston 7.

ln the bottom or' the cylinder 5 l provide having' preferably a fibre seat 27 t which the end of the piston i is ,to abut when the piston is in its t position. A spring 28 surrounds 2G and projects above it when the pistol. i' is raised. This spring' is tensioned las the piston descends until it strikes the The tension is sufficient to lift on off a short distance in the cylinsoon the operator releases the rod rthis return movement of .nston 7 relieves the pressure on the iquid and creates a suction which draws `.ie iiquid from the nozzle into the pipe 18 as thevalve 23 closes. Consequently the valve does not have to operate against the bach pressure of the liquid. The valve closes more quickly and the liquid Which would remain otherwise in the nozzle is dra'vvn int@ the pipe and retained there until the piston is again raised to draw a new charge into the cylinder and then depressed to force the liquid from the cylinder and nozzle.

From the foregoingit Will be observed that my improvement is relatively simple. it nevertheless affords maximum protection to the operator and avoids accidental contact with the deadly liquid or vapors which are employed in fumigating. Practical use has demonstrated the efficiency of the iniproved apparatus in preventing leakage of liquid or vapors therefrom during the handling of the fumigating apparatus.

Various changes may be made in the forni, arrangementand construction of the parts Without departing from the invention or sacrilicing any of the advantages thereof.

l claim l. in a fuinigating apparatus, the combination of a cylinder, a piston provided With a valve Within the cylinder, a nozzle connected to the cylinder and having an automatic valve therein to permit passage of a fluid therethrough under pressure, the piston being adapted to be moved through the cylinder with its valve in closed position to force fluid through the nozzle and adapted to be moved in reverse direction through the cylinder with the valve open to permit fluid to iiow from one side of the piston to the other and mechanism operable on the piston at the end of its pressure strolre to move the piston in the reverse direction before the valve therein .is opened to thereby release the pressure on the fluid.

2. ln a. fumigating apparatus, the combination of a cylinder, a piston provided With a valve Within the cylinder, a nozzle connected t() the cylinder and having an automat" valve therein to permit passage of' a fi therethrough under pressure, the piston being adapted to be moved tl'irough the cylii'ider With its valve in closed p tion to force fluid through th nozzle ani adapted to be moved in reverse direction through the cylinder with the valve open to permit iluid to flouT from one side of the piston to the other and 'iechanisin operable en the piston at the end of its if strolfze t@ move the piston in the reverse direction before the valve therein is opened to therebyI vithdraiv the fluid in the nozzle and to release the pressure exerted upon the valve in the nozzle.

3. in a tuinigating apparatus, the combination of a cylinder, a piston provided with a valve within the cylinder and a nozzle connected to the cylinder by a pipe having an z-utoinatic valve 'therein to permit passage of fluid therethrough under pressure, the piston being adapted to be moved through the cylinder with its valve in closed position to force fluid through the nozzle and adapted t0 be moved in the reverse direction through the cylinder with its valve in open position to permit fluid to flovv from one side of the cylinder to the other side thereof' and a spring for engaging the piston before the end of the pressure strolre thereof, this spring acting upon the piston to move it in the reverse direction at the end of the pressure stroke and before the valve in the piston is opened to release the pressure exerted upon the nozzle valve by the fluid in the pipe.

4. in a fumigating apparatus, the combination or" a cylinder, a piston provided with a valve Within the cylinder and a nozzle connected to the cylinder by a pipe having an automatic valve therein to permit passage of fluid therethrough under pressure, the piston being adapted to be moved through the cylinder With its valve in closed position to force iluid through the nozzle and adapted to be moved in the reverse direction through the cylinder with its valve in open position to permit fluid to flow from one side of the cylinder to the other side thereof and a spring for engaging the piston before the end of the pressure stroke thereof, this spring acting upon the piston to move it in the reverse direction at the end of the pressure stroke and before the valve in the piston is opened whereby the fluid which is in the nozzle and beyond the nozzle valve is drawn bach into the pipe and retained by the automatically closing nozzle valve.

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature.

GEORGE J. l/VEGERER. 

